bims-biprem Biomed News
on Bioprinting for regenerative medicine
Issue of 2023–06–25
thirteen papers selected by
Seerat Maqsood, University of Teramo



  1. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2023 Jun 19.
      Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, or additive manufacturing, is a rapid fabrication technique with the foremost objective of creating biomimetic tissue and organ replacements in hopes of restoring normal tissue function and structure. Generating the engineered organs with an infrastructure that is similar to that of the real organs can be beneficial to simulate the functional organs that work inside our bodies. Photopolymerization-based 3D bioprinting, or photocuring, has emerged as a promising method in engineering biomimetic tissues due to its simplicity, non-invasive, and spatially controllable approach. In this review, we investigated types of 3D printers, mainstream materials, photoinitiators, phototoxicity, and selected tissue engineering applications of 3D photopolymerization bioprinting.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEB.2023.0072
  2. Mol Biotechnol. 2023 Jun 22.
      Nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications are relatively new field that is constantly advancing and expanding. The materials used are at the nanoscale level. Recently, great discoveries and applications have been made (Agents for use in chemotherapy, biological agents and immunotherapy agents) in the treatment of diseases in various areas. Tissue engineering is based on the regeneration and repair of damaged organs and tissues by developing biological substitutes that restore, maintain or improve the function of tissues and organs. Cells isolated from patients are used to seed 3D nanoparticles that can be synthetic or natural biomaterials. For the development of new tissue in tissue engineering, it is necessary to meet the conditions for connecting cells. This paper will present the ways of connecting cells and creating new tissues. Some recent discoveries and advances in the field of nanomedicine and the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery will be presented. Furthermore, the improvement of the effectiveness of new and old drugs based on the application of nanotechnology will be shown.
    Keywords:  Controlled drug delivery; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured materials; Tissue engineering
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-023-00784-1
  3. Biofabrication. 2023 Jun 19.
      Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology typically used in tissue engineering. However, 3D-printed row scaffolds manufactured using material extrusion techniques have low cell affinity on the surface and an insufficient biocompatible environment for desirable tissue regeneration. Thus, in this study, plasma treatment was used to render surface modification for enhancing the biocompatibility of 3D-printed scaffolds. We designed a plasma-based 3D printing system with dual heads comprising a plasma device and a regular 3D FDM printer head for a layer-by-layer nitrogen plasma treatment. Accordingly, the wettability, roughness, and protein adsorption capability of the 3D-printed scaffold significantly increased with the plasma treatment time. Hence, the layer-by-layer plasma-treated (LBLT) scaffold exhibited significantly enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation in an in vitro assay. Furthermore, the LBLT scaffold demonstrated a higher tissue infiltration and lower collagen encapsulation than those demonstrated by a non-plasma-treated scaffold in an in vivo assay. Our approach has great potential for various tissue-engineering applications via the adjustment of gas or precursor levels. In particular, this system can fabricate scaffolds capable of holding a biocompatible surface on an entire 3D-printed strut. Thus, our one-step 3D printing approach is a promising platform to overcome the limitations of current biocompatible 3D scaffold engineering.
    Keywords:  3D printing; cell affinity; layer by layer deposition; plasma treatment; poly(lactic acid)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/acdf86
  4. Turk J Orthod. 2023 Jun 22. 36(2): 134-142
      Developments in computer-aided design and three-dimensional (3D) printing have revolutionized the workflow for orthodontic applications. The purpose of this review article is to provide information about 3D printer history and types, appliances manufactured using 3D printers, and new designs that can be used in different cases. Articles published between January 2010 and November 2020 were reviewed on PubMed, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Google academic resources, and 69 were identified as appropriate for the study. It was seen that bracket and archwires, nasoalveolar molding devices, orthognathic surgical splints, removable appliances, expansion appliances, clear aligner, retainers, auxiliary attachments, and working models can all be made with 3D printers. The 3D printer is now a technology that is easily accessible to orthodontists, increasing the production of different customizable appliances and promising a transition to a digital clinical workflow in the future.
    Keywords:  3D printer; Printing; stereolithography; three-dimensional
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.4274/TurkJOrthod.2022.2021.0074
  5. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2023 Jun 19.
       PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews the basics of 3D printing and provides an overview of current and future applications of this emerging technology in pediatric orthopedic surgery.
    RECENT FINDINGS: Both preoperative and intraoperative utilization of 3D printing technology have enhanced clinical care. Potential benefits include more accurate surgical planning, shortening of a surgical learning curve, decrease in intraoperative blood loss, less operative time, and fluoroscopic time. Furthermore, patient-specific instrumentation can be used to improve the safety and accuracy of surgical care. Patient-physician communication can also benefit from 3D printing technology. 3D printing is rapidly advancing in the field of pediatric orthopedic surgery. It has the potential to increase the value of several pediatric orthopedic procedures by enhancing safety and accuracy while saving time. Future efforts in cost reduction strategies, making patient-specific implants including biologic substitutes and scaffolds, will further increase the relevance of 3D technology in the field of pediatric orthopedic surgery.
    Keywords:  3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Patient-specific instrumentation; Pediatric orthopedic surgery
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-023-09847-x
  6. Regen Eng Transl Med. 2023 ;9(2): 224-239
       Abstract: The immune system plays a crucial role during tissue repair and wound healing processes. Biomaterials have been leveraged to assist in this in situ tissue regeneration process to dampen the foreign body response by evading or suppressing the immune system. An emerging paradigm within regenerative medicine is to use biomaterials to influence the immune system and create a pro-reparative microenvironment to instigate endogenously driven tissue repair. In this review, we discuss recent studies that focus on immunomodulation of innate and adaptive immune cells for tissue engineering applications through four biomaterial-based mechanisms of action: biophysical cues, chemical modifications, drug delivery, and sequestration. These materials enable augmented regeneration in various contexts, including vascularization, bone repair, wound healing, and autoimmune regulation. While further understanding of immune-material interactions is needed to design the next generation of immunomodulatory biomaterials, these materials have already demonstrated great promise for regenerative medicine.
    Lay Summary: The immune system plays an important role in tissue repair. Many biomaterial strategies have been used to promote tissue repair, and recent work in this area has looked into the possibility of doing repair by tuning. Thus, we examined the literature for recent works showcasing the efficacy of these approaches in animal models of injuries. In these studies, we found that biomaterials successfully tuned the immune response and improved the repair of various tissues. This highlights the promise of immune-modulating material strategies to improve tissue repair.
    Keywords:  Biomaterials; Drug delivery; Immunomodulation; Regenerative medicine; Tissue engineering
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40883-022-00279-6
  7. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2023 Jun 19.
      With the recent developments in tissue engineering, scientists have attempted to establish seed cells from different sources, create cell sheets through various technologies, implant them on scaffolds with various spatial structures, or load scaffolds with cytokines. These research results are very optimistic, bringing hope to the treatment of patients with uterine infertility. In this paper, we reviewed all the articles related to the treatment of uterine infertility from the aspects of experimental treatment strategy, seed cells, scaffold application, and repair criteria so as to provide a basis for future research.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEB.2022.0226
  8. Biomater Adv. 2023 Jun 07. pii: S2772-9508(23)00225-X. [Epub ahead of print]153 213502
      Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the important causes of death worldwide. The incidence and mortality rates are increasing annually with the intensification of social aging. The efficacy of drug therapy is limited in individuals suffering from severe heart failure due to the inability of myocardial cells to undergo regeneration and the challenging nature of cardiac tissue repair following injury. Consequently, surgical transplantation stands as the most efficient approach for treatment. Nevertheless, the shortage of donors and the considerable number of heart failure patients worldwide, estimated at 26 million, results in an alarming treatment deficit, with only around 5000 heart transplants feasible annually. The existing major alternatives, such as mechanical or xenogeneic hearts, have significant flaws, such as high cost and rejection, and are challenging to implement for large-scale, long-term use. An organoid is a three-dimensional (3D) cell tissue that mimics the characteristics of an organ. The critical application has been rated in annual biotechnology by authoritative journals, such as Science and Cell. Related industries have achieved rapid growth in recent years. Based on this technology, cardiac organoids are expected to pave the way for viable heart repair and treatment and play an essential role in pathological research, drug screening, and other areas. This review centers on the examination of biomaterials employed in cardiac repair, strategies employed for the reconstruction of cardiac structure and function, clinical investigations pertaining to cardiac repair, and the prospective applications of cardiac organoids. From basic research to clinical practice, the current status, latest progress, challenges, and prospects of biomaterial-based cardiac repair are summarized and discussed, providing a reference for future exploration and development of cardiac regeneration strategies.
    Keywords:  Biomaterials; Cardiac organoids; Cardiovascular disease
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213502
  9. Adv Healthc Mater. 2023 Jun 23. e2300443
      3D bioprinting has developed tremendously in the last couple of years and enables the fabrication of simple, as well as complex, tissue models. The international space agencies have recognized the unique opportunities of these technologies for manufacturing cell and tissue models for basic research in space, in particular for investigating the effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation on different types of human tissues. In addition, bioprinting is capable of producing clinically applicable tissue grafts, and its implementation in space therefore can support the autonomous medical treatment options for astronauts in future long term and far-distant space missions. The article discusses opportunities but also challenges of operating different types of bioprinters under space conditions, mainly in microgravity. While some process steps, most of which involving the handling of liquids, are challenging under microgravity, this environment can help overcome problems such as cell sedimentation in low viscous bioinks. Hopefully, this publication will motivate more researchers to engage in the topic, with publicly available bioprinting opportunities becoming available at the International Space Station (ISS) in the imminent future.
    Keywords:  additive manufacturing; biofabrication; low Earth orbit - LEO; space
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202300443
  10. Acta Biomater. 2023 Jun 16. pii: S1742-7061(23)00337-9. [Epub ahead of print]
      Low back pain is a major public health concern experienced by 80% of the world's population during their lifetime, which is closely associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation. IVD herniation manifests as the nucleus pulposus (NP) protruding beyond the boundaries of the intervertebral disc due to disruption of the annulus fibrosus (AF). With a deepening understanding of the importance of the AF structure in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration, numerous advanced therapeutic strategies for AF based on tissue engineering, cellular regeneration, and gene therapy have emerged. However, there is still no consensus concerning the optimal approach for AF regeneration. In this review, we summarized strategies in the field of AF repair and highlighted ideal cell types and pro-differentiation targeting approaches for AF repair, and discussed the prospects and difficulties of implant systems combining cells and biomaterials to guide future research directions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Low back pain is a major public health concern experienced by 80% of the world's population during their lifetime, which is closely associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation. However, there is still no consensus concerning the optimal approach for annulus fibrosus (AF) regeneration. In this review, we summarized strategies in the field of AF repair and highlighted ideal cell types and pro-differentiation targeting approaches for AF repair, and discussed the prospects and difficulties of implant systems combining cells and biomaterials to guide future research directions.
    Keywords:  Annulus fibrosus; Biomaterial; Combined delivery system; Exosome; Intervertebral disc degeneration
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2023.06.012
  11. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 ;11 1187500
      Introduction: Attempted tracheal replacement efforts thus far have had very little success. Major limiting factors have been the inability to efficiently re-vascularise and mimic the mechanical properties of native tissue. The major objective of this study was to optimise a previously developed collagen-hyaluronic acid scaffold (CHyA-B), which has shown to facilitate the growth of respiratory cells in distinct regions, as a potential tracheal replacement device. Methods: A biodegradable thermoplastic polymer was 3D-printed into different designs and underwent multi-modal mechanical assessment. The 3D-printed constructs were incorporated into the CHyA-B scaffolds and subjected to in vitro and ex vivo vascularisation. Results: The polymeric backbone provided sufficient strength to the CHyA-B scaffold, with yield loads of 1.31-5.17 N/mm and flexural moduli of 0.13-0.26 MPa. Angiogenic growth factor release (VEGF and bFGF) and angiogenic gene upregulation (KDR, TEK-2 and ANG-1) was detected in composite scaffolds and remained sustainable up to 14 days. Confocal microscopy and histological sectioning confirmed the presence of infiltrating blood vessel throughout composite scaffolds both in vitro and ex vivo. Discussion: By addressing both the mechanical and physiological requirements of tracheal scaffolds, this work has begun to pave the way for a new therapeutic option for large tracheal defects.
    Keywords:  3D printing; respiratory; tissue engineering; trachea; vascularisation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1187500
  12. Biomed Eng Online. 2023 Jun 19. 22(1): 62
      Decellularized vascular matrix is a natural polymeric biomaterial that comes from arteries or veins which are removed the cellular contents by physical, chemical and enzymatic means, leaving only the cytoskeletal structure and extracellular matrix to achieve cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation and creating a suitable microenvironment for their growth. In recent years, the decellularized vascular matrix has attracted much attention in the field of tissue repair and regenerative medicine due to its remarkable cytocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to induce tissue regeneration. Firstly, this review introduces its basic properties and preparation methods; then, it focuses on the application and research of composite scaffold materials based on decellularized vascular matrix in vascular tissue engineering in terms of current in vitro and in vivo studies, and briefly outlines its applications in other tissue engineering fields; finally, it looks into the advantages and drawbacks to be overcome in the application of decellularized vascular matrix materials. In conclusion, as a new bioactive material for building engineered tissue and repairing tissue defects, decellularized vascular matrix will be widely applied in prospect.
    Keywords:  Decellularized vascular matrix; Extracellular matrix; Vascular graft; Vascular scaffold
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-023-01120-z